Have you ever met a Luddite? Ever been called one? The term comes from a group of English textile workers in the early 19th century who protested new machinery. These workers believed technology would take away their jobs. I wonder what they will call the people who fear artificial intelligence will take away our jobs and take over the world. I asked Chat GPT (true story) and the answer came back: “techno-pessimists” or “Neo-Luddites.”
Long before the 19th century, some of Ham’s descendants through his son Egypt were known as the Ludites (one “d”; different people). Also in that line were the Philistines who would give the Israelites great grief in the time of the Judges and Saul. From Ham’s son Canaan came a lot of “ites.” The Jebusites proved to be as pesky as termites. When Joshua led the people into the promised land, they were supposed to displace the Jebusites. Alas, they did not succeed. David finally defeated them in Bethlehem as he consolidated his throne over all of Israel. But they still stayed around . . . like termites. Araunah who sold David his threshing floor late in his reign was in fact, one of the Jebusites.
Harry Emerson Fosdick famously wrote, “Only the preacher wakes up on Sunday morning believing the people are desperately concerned about the destiny of the Jebusites. He made a good point. But these Canaanites would give Abraham’s descendants a great deal of grief. To learn that they descended from sinful Ham may have helped the ancient Israelites understand why they were so annoying! Their borders included Gaza which has been in the news, as well as famously sinful Sodom and Gomorrah. We cannot equate these ancient lands with the modern cities and regions that bear their names. This would be simplistic.
How should we relate to a country and world filled with people who are growing in their hostility to the gospel of Jesus Christ? We could exchange angry pejorative epithets with them. But our goal is to be guided by the truth of the gospel. So we forgive and love the way that our Savior has forgiven and loved us. We love our enemies: even if they call us Neo-Luddites. Why? Because God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to eternal life!
My friend Paul and I were walking on treadmills recently when a woman struck up a conversation with us. As we spoke about the Lord, a young man came up and said, “Tell me more.” Our bold older sister asked, “Do you believe in Jesus?” He allowed that he did not. I could see it in her eyes: a real, live unbeliever had walked up and asked like the Philippian jailor, “What must I do to be saved?” Then she testified right there between the treadmills and the ellipticals. I chimed in a few verses, but she did the heavy lifting. The young man thanked her, and we prayed. A seed was planted. Pray that the seed germinates and comes to life. Pray that we all come to life. Jesus is life!
